We met three and a half years ago. Alex had just moved from San Francisco, where he was working, to San Marcos to attend grad school. I was studying for my nutrition degree. We met online, but didn’t actually meet in person for several months, despite almost crossing paths several times at school. When we finally did meet up, it turned out we practically lived on the same street! Our first date was at a coffee shop, even though Alex doesn’t like coffee – he played along and got a smoothie. We hit it off right away and didn’t want the night to end, so from there we went to get pancakes, even though I should’ve been studying for a big test the next day. Since then we’ve been inseparable, sharing a passion for food, music, and video games.

On a Friday afternoon while looking at wedding venues he suggested that we head to a nearby look-out point called Mt. Bonnell. I found it rather suspicious but didn’t think too much into it because we had ring shopped together and I knew when my engagement ring would be shipped in. Sitting over the cliff we talked about our future, details for the wedding, growing old together and while I wasn’t paying attention, he bent down on one knee while trying his hardest to not fall over the ledge. I said “yes” and the rest is history!

My Latin heritage and our love for food had a lot to do with the inspiration of our wedding. Spending a lot of time in Mexico you are surrounded by colors, culture, food, and most of all family, and I really wanted that feel to represent our wedding. I would describe to our vendors that our inspiration was a Spanish garden party with a modern chic vibe. I finally decided on eggplant and fuchsia with pops of marigold. I wanted it to be formal but not stuffy.

With Alex’s family from central Texas and mine from Mexico we wanted to go with a venue where there would be as little driving as possible, that also offered an outdoor space for the ceremony and a gorgeous indoor ballroom for the reception. Once we toured the Mansion at Judges’ Hill, I immediately pictured us tying the knot under the pergola in the garden courtyard and celebrating a lavish affair upstairs in the elegant ballroom; it was perfect!

We continued our Spanish/southwest theme with a special menu. During cocktail hour a lively 9-piece mariachi band started the fiesta while guests sipped colorful watermelon and pineapple agua frescas and snacked on miniature quesadillas and empanadas. Celebrating his birthday two days prior I really wanted to go all out on a special groom’s cake for my tech-savy hubby. I surprised him with a six foot iPhone cake constructed of his favorite cake balls with special apps that had meaning to him such Star Wars, Yelp and even the game he designed himself in his favorite flavors.